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Indians in UAE want ‘long, cumbersome’ voting procedure to be simplified
Dubai, Jan 12: The Indian community living in the UAE feels the procedure to
exercise their franchise is too complicated, and has urged the government to
simplify the voting process.
The Indian government recently called on its citizens in the diaspora to
exercise their franchise in the elections to five state legislatures beginning
January 28.
According to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), NRIs who
want to vote must first register or enroll with the country''s electoral roll by
filling an online form.
They will then have to submit it in person or by post to the Electoral
Registration Officer (ERO) of their respective constituency. To cast their vote
on election day, they will have to be physically present in the designated
polling station with their original passport.
But many Indians in the UAE said the procedure for voting should be made
simpler, with provisions being made for them to cast their ballots here, The
Gulf News reports.
“The process must be simplified. It is too long and cumbersome. Moreover, I have
to make a special trip back home if I have to cast my vote,” said a senior oil
and gas executive from Delhi.
“I haven''t been able to visit my native place to meet my family for so many
years. I can''t afford it. How can you expect me to plan a visit for an
election?" said another man from Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador in the UAE, said that NRIs who want to
cast their votes in India will have to directly register with the ECI, and not
with the Indian missions or their website as being widely reported by the media.
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